Post by Madhatter on Feb 22, 2007 23:15:47 GMT
Prince Harry is to be sent to Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The 22-year-old third in line to the throne is to become the first royal to be deployed on a tour of duty in a war zone for a quarter of a century.
His uncle, the Duke of York, flew helicopters in the Falklands conflict 25 years ago.
Army officer Harry will join his regiment, the Blues and Royal, in Iraq as part of a long-planned rotation of troops.
The news comes a day after Prime Minister Tony Blair outlined the first step in a phased withdrawal of British forces from the country with the return of some 1,600 troops within months.
Harry has always been determined to see action on the front line. "The last thing I said was there's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my a*** back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," he once admitted.
"That may sound very patriotic, but it's true. It's not the way anyone should really work."
There were reports he had even threatened to quit the Army if he were not allowed to serve abroad in a war zone.
The decision to allow him to serve in Iraq on Operation Telic brings with it a mass of security considerations.
There are fears that having such a high-profile target as a member of the Royal Family in the country could spur on insurgents to attack the Army. There will be concern not only for the Prince's safety, but for those serving alongside him.
I've heard about this all day until i'm sick of hearing about, I think he joined the army to be a soldier and should be sent with the rest as he wishes to be. The rest, while I see the point that people are making about increased risk, are at risk anyway, they're soldiers and i'm sure they don't have any objections to Harry going
The 22-year-old third in line to the throne is to become the first royal to be deployed on a tour of duty in a war zone for a quarter of a century.
His uncle, the Duke of York, flew helicopters in the Falklands conflict 25 years ago.
Army officer Harry will join his regiment, the Blues and Royal, in Iraq as part of a long-planned rotation of troops.
The news comes a day after Prime Minister Tony Blair outlined the first step in a phased withdrawal of British forces from the country with the return of some 1,600 troops within months.
Harry has always been determined to see action on the front line. "The last thing I said was there's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my a*** back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," he once admitted.
"That may sound very patriotic, but it's true. It's not the way anyone should really work."
There were reports he had even threatened to quit the Army if he were not allowed to serve abroad in a war zone.
The decision to allow him to serve in Iraq on Operation Telic brings with it a mass of security considerations.
There are fears that having such a high-profile target as a member of the Royal Family in the country could spur on insurgents to attack the Army. There will be concern not only for the Prince's safety, but for those serving alongside him.
I've heard about this all day until i'm sick of hearing about, I think he joined the army to be a soldier and should be sent with the rest as he wishes to be. The rest, while I see the point that people are making about increased risk, are at risk anyway, they're soldiers and i'm sure they don't have any objections to Harry going
